13 Tips for a Super Yard Sale

If spring is for cleaning, summer is for selling off all the junk you’ve accumulated. And the simplest way to do it? An American classic: the yard sale.

But if you’re interested in making money, what you need are a few pointers to make your next sale more successful. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a yard sale is nothing more than throwing your stuff out on the lawn and collecting cash: Marketing and merchandising make a difference.

Use these tips to make sure you end the day with more fives and tens, and fewer odds and ends.

1. Check the rules. The last thing you want to do is drag all your stuff onto the lawn only to have a neighbor complain or someone from the city code enforcement drop by. It’s rare for a permit or license to be required, but it’s possible. There are even neighborhoods where yard sales are not allowed at all.

2. Don’t go it alone. There are a few things in life best done alone, but yard saling isn’t one of them. The more people you involve and the more stuff you offer, the better the sale will be and the less you’ll have to do. Go door to door and get the whole block involved.

3. Check the weather and pick your spot. The yard’s better than the garage – there’s more light and space, people can see the goods clearly from the street, and the whole thing looks more festive and inviting. But check the weather: You don’t want your stuff rained on, and inside or out, you’ll have fewer shoppers if it’s raining. Weekends are obviously best, and plan on starting early: You’ll have bargain-seekers there at the crack of dawn.

4. Advertise well. Homemade signs are fine – just make sure they’re big enough to read (drive by them yourself) and include arrows, the address, and a phone number in case people can’t find you. The busier the street where you plant your signs, the better. But be aware of sign ordinances in your neighborhood. Advertise online for free as well: Try YardSaleSearch.com — the more effort you put into marketing your sale, the more money you’ll make and the faster your clutter will clear.

5.Make it easy for buyers. Group similar items, alphabetize books, movies, and music, and sort clothes by size or type. Leave enough room for people to get around easily and quickly. Also, a yard sale checklist for before, during, and after the sale can help you keep track of everything.

6.Price and label clearly. Removable stickers (colored dots work well) are cheap solutions for labeling: Red dots are a dollar, yellow 50 cents, etc. Having boxes or tables with a fixed-price can save you from individually labeling everything.

7. Encourage bulk buys. People who shop yard sales are looking for deals. Offer discounts for buying in multiples, like 3 for $5.

8. The clock is ticking. If stuff isn’t selling as the day goes on, become more flexible: The later it gets, the lower the price.

9. Keep it simple. Pricing everything in quarter increments makes transactions simpler. So does having plenty of change: Keep at least one roll of quarters, at least $20 in ones, and a few fives and tens handy.

10. Don’t be a pest. Doesn’t it annoy you when store employees follow you around? Acknowledge everyone with a smile or a wave to show you’re available, and leave them to it. Consider offering free drinks: water, lemonade, tea, or cheap soda.

11. Power to the people. It’s hard to sell electronics if people can’t see that they work. Run an extension cord outside. If you have records or CDs for sale, playing music can help sales and provide a nice atmosphere.

12. Donate your leftovers. As the day winds down, if you’ve got stuff left over, call a local charity and invite them to the party. That way you can turn your remaining inventory into a tax deduction while helping people who didn’t have the money to show up.

13. A tip for yard-sale buyers. If you’re a buyer, always head for the ritziest zip codes. Rich people have higher-quality stuff and are more likely to let it go cheap.